William Randall Roberts | |
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 5th district | |
| In office March 4, 1871 – March 3, 1875 | |
| Preceded by | John Morrissey |
| Succeeded by | Edwin R. Meade |
| United States Ambassador to Chile | |
| In office July 4, 1885 – August 9, 1889 | |
| President | Grover Cleveland |
| Preceded by | Cornelius Ambrose Logan |
| Succeeded by | Patrick Egan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 6, 1830 Mitchelstown, County Cork, Ireland |
| Died | August 9, 1897 (aged 67) New York City |
| Resting place | Calvary Cemetery, Queens, New York City |
William Randall Roberts (February 6, 1830 – August 9, 1897) was a Fenian Brotherhood member, United States Representative from New York (1871–1875), and a United States Ambassador to Chile. Roberts, an Irish immigrant who became a wealthy businessman, rose quickly to a position of major influence amongst the Fenian Brotherhood before eventually taking leadership. Under his direction, the Fenians in America moved to use Irish-American veterans of the American Civil War to invade Canada in the hopes that they could leverage this against the British Empire to negotiate for an Independent Irish Republic. After the first attempt to invade Canada was not successful, Roberts resigned from the leadership of the Fenians and began to transition into American politics. He served as a United States Representative from New York and Ambassador to Chile until a stroke ended his career.